Dress form



L. M. IKAHN DRESS FORM Aug. 2, 1949.

Filed Aug. 7, 1947' 2 Smeets-sheet 1 mi m m. v w 4W /L Aug. 2, 1949..

L. M. KAHN 2,478,107

DRESS FORM Filed Aug. '7, 19447 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. I Hu/ 6 M; Kfm/v atentecl Aug. 2, 1949 OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dress forms and represents an improvement on my Patent No. 2,315,371, granted March 30, 1943.

An important object of this invention resides in the construction of a dress form which will attractively display a dress and which smaller, simpler, and requires less cardboard than heretofore. The new dress form may also be used for various types of sportswear and wearing apparel for infants, childrcns and ladies wear.

The new dress form is intended not only to display dresses and other wearing apparel but also to suitably hold them during shipment. The new form may also be used by laundries and dress cleaning establishments.

The new form is characterized by a single blank of cardboard for engagement against the back of a dress or other wearing apparel in the vicinity of the lower waist portion and the upper skirt portion. This single blank of cardboard is narrower than the width of the dress so that side portions of the dress may be folded on the side portions of the blank. It is proposed that said blank have an upper skirt section for forming or shaping the skirt portion of said folded dress, and a lower waist section for forming or shaping the waist portion ofthe folded dress.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the lower waist section of the blank: have inwardly directed slots from its sides at a location slightly above the waistline of said dress for the folded side portions of said dress to engage through for positioning said folded side portions above said slots along the back of the blank. The lower Waist section also has upwardly directed top projecting sections with inclined inner sides to guide folding or the sleeves of said dress forwardly and outwardly. It is also proposed that the lower waist section have downwardly directed slots from the bottom of said inclined inner sides for the sides of the sleeves of said dress to engage into upon engagement of said sleeves over said top projecting sections.

It is also contemplated to provide the lower waist section with an opening through which a small portion of the back of said dress may be engaged and pinned for connecting the blank with the dress,

It is also proposed that the waistline section of the blank be the narrowest section of the blank for receiving and holding a waistline strap or belt of the dress by which the dress may be securely mounted on the form.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a dress form as described, which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a back view of a dress mounted upon a dress form in accordance with this invention and also illustrated mounted on a supporting hanger.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the dress form, per se.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrated with the dress partly removed from the form.

rhe dress formfin accordance with this invention, includes a single blank of cardboard I il for engagement against the back Il of a dress l2 in the vicinity of the lower waist portion and the upper skirt portion of the dress. Said single blank it is narrower than the width of said dress l2 so that side portions I4 of the dress l2 maybe folded upon side portions of the blank Ii).

The blank Hl has an upper skirt portion I5 for forming or shaping the skirt portion of said folded dress IZ, and a lower waist section I6 for forming or shaping the waist portion of the folded dress i2. The upper skirt portion i5 is dared downwardly and outwardly for correspondingly shaping the dress. More particularly, it has curved sides I8 along which the sides of the folded dress extend. The upper skirt section l5 also is formed with a cutout bottom section I9 for reducing the weight of the 'clank and thus reducing shipping costs of a lot of dresses mounted on the dress forms.

The lower waist section It has inwardly directed slots 2G from its sides at a location slightly above the waistline of the dress for the folded side portions it 'of the dress I2 to engage through, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, for positioning said folded side portions I4 above said slots 26 to the back of the blank It. Said lower waist section i6 also is provided with upwardly directed top projecting sections 2l having inclined inner sides 22 to guide folding of the sleeves of said dress l2, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 4 and hereafter more fully explained. The sleeves of the dress are folded forwardly and outwardly. The lower waist section I6 is also provided with downwardly directed slots 24 from the bottom of said inclined inner sides 22 for the sides of the sleeves of said dress I2 to engage into upon engagement of said sleeves over said top projecting sections 2|. The lower waist section I6 is flared upwardly and outwardly, that is, its sides extend upwards and outwards from the waistline of the dress so as to form, fashion or shape the waist portion of the dress.

The lower waist section IE is also provided with an opening 25 through which a small portion 26 of the back of the dress I2 may be engaged and held with a pin 21 passed through the small portion and extending over the side portions of the opening 25 for connecting the blank I0 with the dress I 2. It is pointed out that the waistline section of the blank IU is the narrowest section of the blank for receiving and holding the waistline straps or belts of dresses. More particularly, the dress I2 is illustrated provided with waistline tie straps 28. These tie straps 28 are tied together into a bow 29 at the back of the dress and assist in holding the dress I2 on the blank I 0. A hanger 3Q is illustrated supporting the dress I2. The new form is graded in various sizes for different ranges of wearing apparel.

The operation and use of the dress form may be understood from the following:

The blank I is positioned upon the back of a dress so that the waistline portion of the blank coincides with the waistline of the dress. Then the side portions I4 of the dress are folded over and upon the side portions of the blank. Each side portion I4 corresponds approximately with that area of the dress I2 outside of the line ABCDE (see Fig. 4). Then those portions of the side portions above the inwardly directed slots 20 are engaged through the slots 20 so as to be disposed in back of the blank Ill. 'Ihe side portion lll at the left in Fig. 4 is illustrated in this condim tien. The sleeves are then bent down along the inclined inner sides 22 of the upwardly directed top projecting sections 2|. More specifically, each sleeve is bent down along the line FG (see Fig. 4). Then the sleeves are opened up and engaged over the upwardly directed top sections 2| and the sides of the sleeves are engaged into the downwardly directed slots 24. The waistline tie straps 28 are then tied. A portion 2B of the .back of the dress is engaged through the opening 25 land the pin 21 is passed through it. The dress is mounted on the hanger 30. The dress is shown in this condition, in Fig. 1.

The dress may be folded for boxing and shipping by bending the top portion down along the line HJ and the bottom portion up along the line KL. When thus folded the dresses may be packed in boxes or cartons -by the manufacturer or wholesaler. The retailer displays the dresses by merely unfolding on the lines HJ and KL and supporting the dresses by the hangers 30. When a customer purchases a dress it is not removed from the form or blank ID but is folded again on the lines HJ and KL and so boxed cr packaged.

An important feature of the new dress form resides in the fact that it attractively forms or shapes the dress .for display. The dress form is relatively small since it merely extends across the central portion of a dress. The form itself is relatively simple since it is a compact simple shape without large and free projecting portions. The form merely has several slots, namely the slots 20 and 24 for engaging and holding portions of the dress mounted on it. It should be recognized that each slot on the form eliminates the use of a pin,

in order that wearing apparel may be draped on the form and firmly held in position without the 5 use of pins.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A dress form for use in shipment and display of dresses and other wearing apparel, comprising a single blank of cardboard for engagement against the back of a dress in the vicinity of the lower waist portion and the upper skirt portion and being narrower than the width of said dress so that side portions of said dress may be folded upon the side portions of said blank, said blank having an upper skirt section for forming the skirt portion of said folded dress and a lower waist section for forming the waist portion of said folded dress, said lower waist section having inwardly directed slots from its sides at a location slightly above the waistline of said dress for the folded side portions of said dress to engage through for positioning said folded side portions above said slots along the back of said blank, said lower waist section having upwardly directed top projecting sections with inclined inner sides to guide folding of the sleeves of said dress forwardly and outwardly, and said lower waist section having downwardly directed slots from the bottom of said inclined inner sides for the sides of the sleeves of said dress to engage into upon engagement of said sleeves over said top projecting sections.

2. A dress form for use in shipment and display of dresses and other wearing apparel, comprising a single blank of cardboard for engagement against the back of a dress in the vicinity of the lower waist portion and the upper skirt portion and being narrower than the width of said dress so that side portions of said dress may be folded upon the side portions of said blank, said blank having an upper skirt section for forming the skirt portion of said folded dress and a lower waist section for forming the waist portion of said folded dress, said lower waist section having inwardly directed slots from its sides at a location slightly above the waistline of said dress for the folded side portions of said dress to engage through for positioning said folded side portions above said slots along the back of said blank, said lower waist section having upwardly directed top projecting sections with inclined inner sides to guide folding of the sleeves of said dress forwardly and outwardly, and said lower waist section having downwardly directed slots from the bottom of said inclined inner sides for the sides of the sleeves of said dress to engage into upon engagement of said sleeves over said top projecting sections, said upper skirt section being flared downwardly and outwardly.

3. A dress form for use in shipment and display of dresses and other wearing apparel, comprising a single blank of cardboard for engagement against the back of a dress in the vicinity of the lower waist portion and the upper skirt portion and being narrower than the width of said dress so that side portions of said dress may be folded upon the side portions of said blank, said blank having an upper skirt section for forming the skirt portion of said folded dress and a lower waist section for forming the waist portion of said folded dress, said iower waist section having inwardly directed slots from its sides at a l cation slightly above the waistline of said dress for the folded side portions of said dress to engage through for positioning said folded side portions above said slots along the back of said blank, said lower waist section having upwardly directed top projecting sections with inclined inner sides to guide folding of the sleeves of said dress forwardly and outwardly, and said lower waist section having downwardly directed slots from the bottom of said inclined inner sides for the sides of the sleeves of said dress to engage into upon engagement of said sleeves over said top projecting sections, said upper skirt section having a cut out bottom section to decrease the weight of the form.

4, A dress form for use in shipment and display of dresses and other wearing apparel, comprising a single blank of cardboard for engagement against the back of a dress in the vicinity of the lower waist portion and the upper skirt portion and being narrower than the width of said dress so that side portions of said dress may be folded upon the side portions of said blank, said blank having an upper skirt section for forming the skirt portion of said folded dress and a lower waist section for forming the waist portion of said folded dress, said lower waist section having inwardly directed slots from its sides at a location slight above the waistline of said dress for the folded side portions of said dress to engage through for positioning said folded side portions above said slots along the back of said blank, said lower waist section having upwardly diret-ted top projecting sections with inclined inner sides to guide folding of the sleeves of said dress forwardly and outwardly, and said lower waist section having downwardly directed slots from the bottom of said inclined inner sides for the sides of the sleeves of said dress to engage into upon engagement of said sleeves over said top projecting sections, said lower waist section being ared upwardly and outwardly.

5. A dress form for use in shipment and display of dresses and other wearing apparel, cornprising a single blank of cardboard for engage- .ment against the back of a dress in the vicinity of the lower waist portion and the upper skirt portion and being narrower than the width of said dress so that side portions of said dress may be folded upon the side portions of said blank, said blank having an upper skirt section for forming the skirt portion of said folded dress and a lower waist section for forming the waist portion of said folded dress, said lower waist section having inwardly directed slots from its sides at a location slightly above the waistline of said dress for the folded side portions of said dress to engage through for positioning said folded side portions above said slots along the back of said blank, said lower waist section having upwardly directed top projecting sections with inclined inner sides to guide folding of the sleeves of said dress forwardly and outwardly, said lower waist section having downwardly directed slots from the bottom of said inclined inner sides for the sides of the sleeves of said dress to engage into upon engagement of said sleeves over said top projecting sections, and said lower waist section having an opening through which a small portion of the back of said dress may be engaged and pinned for connecting said blank and dress.

6. A dress form for use in shipment and display of dresses and other wearing apparel, comprising a single blank of cardboard for engagement against the back of a dress in the vicinity of the lower waist portion and the upper skirt portion and being narrower than the width of said dress so that side portions of said dress may be folded upon the side portions of said blank, said blank having an upper skirt section for forming the skirt portion of said folded dress and a lower waist section for forming the waist portion of said folded dress, said lower waist section having inwardly directed slots from its sides at a location slightly above the waistline of said dress for the folded side portions of said dress to engage through for positioning said folded side portions above said slots along the back of said blank, said lower waist section having upwardly directed top projecting sections with inclined inner sides to guide folding of the sleeves of said dress forwardly and outwardly, said lower waist section having downwardly directed slots from the bottom of said inclined inner sides for the sides of the sleeves of said dress to engage into upon engagement of said sleeves over said top projecting sections, and the waistline section of said blank being the narrowest section of said blank for receiving and holding a waistline strap of said dress.

LAWRENCE M. KAI-IN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,317,241 Tharp Sept. 30, 1919 1,852,604 Caueld Apr. 5, 1932 2,366,533 Kahn Jan. 2, 1943 

